LAVERTON has waltzed into the Victorian Turf Cricket Association north A1 grand final after cruising to victory over Moonee Valley at Laverton Park on Saturday.
The Magpies were heavy favourites heading into the match and that is exactly how it transpired with the minor premiers booking a berth in the big one where they will confront surprise packet East Keilor in a four-day decider.
The Valleys must have rued their decision to bat first, perishing for a measly 95 in 57 overs and having d no answer to Magpies’ opening bowler Shaun Delaney, who finished with 3-21 off 16 overs.
It was far from a one-man bowling band for the Magpies with Charlie Swallow (2-16) and Matthew O’Brien (2-19) capturing multiple scalps and Mark Keenan and James Baker chiming in with a wicket apiece.
The Magpies played it smart with the bat to avoid a dramatic collapse. They arrived at the target two down after 51 overs and powered to 5-123 before the captains and umpires declared the result inevitable.
Swallow, an import with 618 runs at 47.5, continued his breathtaking summer with 42. Baker made 20 and the other four batsmen used all reached double figures.
It was a real team effort from the Magpies and one that will be hard to stop if replicated in the grand final, beginning on Saturday.
■ Altona Roosters barged their way through to the west B1 grand final with a desperately one-sided 10-wicket win over Barkly Street Uniting in the semi-final at Altona Meadows Reserve.
The Roosters were switched on from the first ball, routing the Streeters for a mediocre 82 in 45 overs.
If the nerves of a cutthroat semi-final was not enough for the Streeters to contend with, they also had to face Roosters opening bowler Leigh Lewis at the peak of his powers.
He lifted the pressure gauge with a tight 1-23 off 20 overs, including 10 maidens.
The rest of the bowlers cashed in on his hard work with wickets at the other end, including three each to Chris Dine and Hamon Uppal.
It was not a matter of if, but when, the Roosters would reach the small target.
Lewis (39 not out) partnered with player-coach David Roach (41) to pass the score without loss of a wicket.
The Roosters will meet Seddon in the season decider and will be odds-on favourites to claim the flag.
Seddon caused a boilover in its semi-fin, edging out Kingsville Baptists by 35 runs at Angliss Reserve.
The Hawks could only manage 136 from 64 overs, but restricted the Baptists to 101 with a marvellous bowling display.
